Zaurak - Zaurak's Bimbling Blog

Zaurak's Bimbling Blog

24 hours in, 140nm behind us, some unfathomable four-digit number of nautical miles to go. Land is out of sight; the sea meets the horizon in all directions.

Not long after the start line on Sunday, lined up excellently by tactician Claire, we drank afternoon tea and cake. This was in order as we started our Atlantic adventure on crew Caroline's birthday!

Sunday to Monday was the first overnight watches for our three pairs. The density on the water last night is unlikely to be matched in the nights ahead. A line of red to our right, green to our left and stern lights ahead. I spent my watch following AIS points representing ARC boats on the chart gradually moving closer to each other, I then put my ear to the VHF radio, nosily waiting for the entertaining communication between the yachts trying to decide who is the stand on vessel. Suspiciously often, both were claiming that status...

The generator worked successfully this morning. Skipper Richard took a warm shower and is now bimbling around the chart table with a fresh look.

Caroline has started the journey with the 'very hard' end of her soduko book, so I'm not sure what the next progression will be. Perhaps designing sodukos for the rest of the crew.

At midday GMT+1, Adrian took a sun sighting on a cloudy day using the boat's sextant. Ever so handy as one can then trawl the tables and adjust for the season and three hours later you come up with the position you were three hours ago. Adrian says at least I'm doing astronomy rather than astrology. Although star signs usually rely on throw away sailing terms like 'fair weather lies ahead', so we could pick and chose for our morale on board!

We now have a whiteboard to count down our days at sea and an on-going sea-life watch. Sea-life count: zero. Future sea-life hopes: whales, Atlantic puffins and flying fish.

Back to boat bimbling,
Alice
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